112 - General Sebas
Orlando City midfielder Sebas Méndez had complete command of Friday night’s 1-1 draw at Sporting Kansas City. The Ecuadorian led the team in touches (112), successful passes (89), passes in the opposing half (46), passing accuracy in the opposing half (87%), interceptions (2), and ball recoveries (10). Méndez had 22 more touches than Antonio Carlos, the next-closest Orlando City player with 90.
1 in 11 - Fortress Exploria
Orlando City has locked it down at home under Oscar Pareja. The Lions have lost just once in their 11 regular season games at Exploria Stadium under Papi, and that came in second half stoppage time against Nashville SC on Decision Day last year after Orlando had already clinched a home playoff game. Only three other teams in the East have lost just once at home since the start of 2020 (Philadelphia, Columbus and Nashville).
5 - Fun in the May sun
Orlando City’s first-ever game against this week’s opponent, FC Cincinnati, came on May 19, 2019. The temperature reached a scalding 90 degrees for an afternoon kick and the Orlando attack heated up with it, blasting home five goals in a 5-1 rout that marks the best Lions offensive performance of the past three years. Nani and Tesho Akindele both recorded braces in the game.
41 - Failure to launch
FC Cincinnati has struggled to put together consistency since joining MLS in 2019. The Ohio side has achieved just 41 points across their first 59 regular season matches, a pace of just 0.69 points per game, while finishing at the bottom of the league table in each of their first two seasons. Cincinnati did have a bright spot in 2020, upsetting Atlanta United to reach the MLS is Back Tournament knockout stage, where they gave eventual champions Portland all they could handle before bowing out in the round of 16.
1.5 - FAIRWINDS Credit Union
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